MPs received a record £86.8m in expenses and allowances last year - more than twice their total wage and pension bill of £38.4m - it emerged yesterday. They claimed an average of around £131,000, taking the total cost to around £200,000 per constituency, including salary package.

But individual claims ranged from under £50,000 for Philip Hollobone, Tory MP for Kettering, to almost £175,000 for Eric Joyce, Labour MP for Falkirk, thanks in large part to the Scottish MP's £45,000 claim for travel. It emerged yesterday that MPS are even allowed to claim 20p per mile if they cycle to work in Westminster. Tory leader David Cameron, who famously cycled to work followed by his chauffeur carrying his clothes, did not claim mileage in his total expenses claim last year of £135,700.

The latest parliamentary expenses report shows how £48.8m claimed by MPs was spent on staffing offices, with the allowance for a second home in London or constituencies accounting for £10.7m. MPs can claim for accommodation costs including mortgages, rent, utility bills and even furniture and TV licences. Cabinet ministers housed by the taxpayer claimed more than £115,000 under the allowance - including John Prescott, the deputy prime minister, who at the time had two state residences but claimed £2,500 more than education secretary Alan Johnson, who represents the neighbouring constituency, and who has never had a grace and favour home. MPs are also reimbursed for spending on travel, office costs and computer equipment.

But the huge disparities in the amounts spent on postage and stationery fuelled suspicion that people in marginal constituencies send more information on their activities to constituents, in the hope of safeguarding their seats. The figures show there are no Tory MPs in the top 20 overall claimants. The most expensive government figure was chief whip Jacqui Smith, whose Redditch seat is highly marginal - she claimed £158,000.

The total for the last financial year is £6m more than in 2004-05, and £30m more than in 2001-02, the first year for which figures are available, according to Bloomberg analysis. Peers are unpaid, but spent £15.6m on expenses.

"It's not surprising that politicians think they can get away with these huge expense accounts because there's no transparency in the system," said Heather Brooke, a campaigner for open government and the author of Your Right to Know.

Critics also argue that the system is based on trust, pointing out that MPs do not even have to offer receipts for expenditure under £250. The information commissioner has twice urged politicians to open their books. Expenses claims by members of the Scottish parliament dropped sharply after detailed breakdowns were published.

But Liberal Democrat MP Nick Harvey, speaking for the Commons committee which oversees the expenditure, insisted: "Compared to parliamentarians in other countries, this represents excellent value for money. This money is for the essential cost of staffing and running their offices in parliament and in the area they represent." Politicians also argue that high expenses claims may indicate a particularly dedicated MP who does more to help constituents, rather than a particularly extravagant one.

This year's figures show that the prime minister has almost halved his expense claims for his constituency home to £8,399 after bad publicity last year. His overall bill as a constituency MP was just over £87,000, while Gordon Brown claimed £135,000 in expenses.

Foreign secretary Margaret Beckett's £133,000 bill included almost £100,000 on staff salaries, including that of her husband Leo, who runs her office. Labour MPs said yesterday that she was one of the hardest workers at Westminster.

Mr Harvey said the overall increase was largely due to last year's general election, which meant that the 135 MPs who retired or lost their seats spent around £5.8m on winding up their affairs, while new members had to set up offices. The total cost of an MP is £729,000 if the running costs of the Commons - such as security - are included, while a peer costs just £149,000.